The 5G/6G Hub – based at ESA’s European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT) at Harwell in the UK – is a place for collaboration and innovation, where industry will take advantage of the immense potential of converged satellite and terrestrial telecommunications networks to create advanced applications that benefit society and the environment. Benefiting from the support of the UK Space Agency (UKSA) the Hub fits into the UK Government’s 5G and 6G strategy.
While initially focused on 5G, as the connectivity transformation continues, a further generation, 6G, will become part of the Hub and provide even greater capacity.
Developed with information technology company CGI, the 5G/6G Hub enables three types of activities, through the provision of a private 5G network with SatCom connectivity in a business-driven facility designed to engage the wider community.
• Events and Showcases
The ESA 5G/6G Hub provides a focal point at the Harwell Science & Innovation Campus from where the capabilities enabled by innovative uses of 5G and SatCom technologies can be demonstrated to VIPs, industry, and the general public.
• Engineering Demonstrations and Applications
The ESA 5G Hub provides a location at which Application Developers and Service Providers can come together to test and verify the feasibility and benefits of their 5G converged network applications and services.
• Engineering Lab
The ESA 5G Hub provides an engineering lab within which technical engineering and support can be provided to demonstrate and integrate new 5G and SatCom capabilities and equipment functionalities.
Each of these activities supports the other. The Engineering Lab supports the development of Demonstrators and Applications, and these Demonstrators and Applications support the outreach activities. The support of ESA ensures that the environment is considered “open”: it supports multiple satellite service providers and potentially multiple core networks, radio access nodes etc.
The 5G/6G Hub is a gateway for commercialisation of space-enabled business ideas and multi-domain collaboration. Stakeholders from all vertical sectors are welcome to come and see how hybrid satellite-terrestrial networks can contribute to their business.
ESA’s ambition is to extend the Hub’s technology to cover businesses at the Harwell Campus, and then across Europe and beyond to connect with other research facilities, fostering innovation in ESA’s member states and globally. The 5G/6G Hub forms an integral part of ESA’s wider efforts to use space technology to enable connectivity.
ESA 5G/6G VIRTUAL TOUR
News and Events
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Aligning European NTN Convergence and Integration
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SatixFy Prime 1 beamformer chip breaks into new 5G terrestrial market
SatixFy have agreed the first sale of their Prime 1 beamformer into the terrestrial 5G market, in a significant deal with India-based Astrome. Developed with the support of the UK Space Agency via the European Space Agency’s ARTES Core…
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Space helps everyone stay connected
Keeping connected always to everyone and everything whether in remote areas or travelling by car, boat or plane is crucial in today’s digital world.
ESA is collaborating with telecommunications company Deutsche Telekom to help improve…
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The ESA 5G/6G Team & UK Space Agency will announce significant funding linked to space-enabled 5G solutions, opening opportunities for industry to develop innovative services related to hybrid terrestrial-satellite communication.
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ESA experiences COP27 using a space-empowered metaverse
ESA has created a space-inspired virtual environment to enable its workforce to experience the COP27 climate summit – which is being held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – without the environmental cost of travelling.
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Space-enabled 5G links Japan and Europe
Engineers have connected Japan and Europe via space-enabled next-generation 5G telecommunication links. It is the first time that such an intercontinental connection has been established between Europe and Japan.
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ESA industry day celebrates UK innovation
British companies are using satellite-enabled connectivity to accelerate the digital transformation of the European economy – as highlighted at an industry showcase held in the UK.
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Space-enabled 5G to help reach remote and dangerous places
Engineers have used converged satellite and terrestrial networks to communicate with a nimble four-legged robot designed to explore environments that are too risky for people to access.
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ESA boosts the satellite-enabled 5G media market
Film fans, gamers and future metaverse users will be able to experience high-quality videos, games and extended reality environments live and uninterrupted from anywhere, as satellites link up with terrestrial-based next-generation 5G and 6G…
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Space-enabled 5G links Japan and Europe
Engineers have connected Japan and Europe via space-enabled next-generation 5G telecommunication links. It is the first time that such an intercontinental connection has been established between Europe and Japan.
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Today’s connected cars are dynamic, updateable devices – and, because they can be updated, they are well equipped to become tomorrow’s cars. ESA is working with European carmakers to ensure that connected vehicles harness the full potential of…
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ESA’s 5G/6G Hub used to simulate lunar connection
Engineers have used ESA’s next-generation communications research facility to simulate links between Earth and the Moon via satellites.